Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 218 | Sunday-Monday, December 27-28, 2020

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JAIL PROBE

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

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Mayor Sara orders investigation on seized drugs at BJMP STORY ON PAGE 2

President Rodrigo Duterte gestures while delivering a speech held at Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City.

The President is set to meet with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and experts to discuss the new variant of coronavirus detected in the United Kingdom (UK). Presidential Photo

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

JAIL PROBE Mayor Sara orders investigation on seized drugs at Ma-a city jail

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has ordered for an investigation of the reported P1.8 shabu seized inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Ma-a.

A woman undergoes swab test in Davao City. The country may need to implement a stricter quarantine classification to control the spread of COVID-19 as cases are feared to increase after the holiday season. Edge Davao

The mayor said she is keen on finding whether there are personnel involved in the said incident.

The suspects, identified by authorities as 63year old Doroteo Guibernas and 34-year old Mylene Tamondong who presented themselves as members of a religious organization, were arrested for attempting to sneak several sachets of shabu in packs of noodles into the jail’s male dormitory last December 24, 2020.

“Duna ta dako kaayo na drug haul nadakpan around 1.8 million diri sa Ma-a City Jail. Apparently, duna’y niadto didto nag-ingon nga mag-donate sila ug mga pagkaon sa mga piniriso. As usual

ang SOP is kinahanglan i-insepct tanan. Pagabri nila sa mga noodles daghan pakete sa droga gisulod sa noodles. Na-detain na ang duha kabuok, babae ug lalaki, nga naghatod ug relief goods kuno pero ang sulod kay shabu,” the mayor said.

Mayor Sara said the apprehension only showed that there is no let down of the city’s campaign against illegal drugs even inside BJMP. “Naa didto ang DCPO, nagdala ug mga investigators kay gusto nato mahibal-an kung duna ba’y mga personnel involved ani dinha sa BJMP,” the mayor said.

Colonel Kirby John Kraft, director of Davao City Police Office (DCPO),

said an investigation is ongoing. Based on the initial investigation, the apprehended individuals used the name of a certain religious organization that is a member of the legitimate organizations that conduct feeding activity inside the said jail.

BJMP-11 spokesperson J/Insp. Edo Lobenia said they were already conducting thorough investigation to determine if anyone from their ranks was involved.

He said BJMP never tolerate its personnel and will file an administrative case if there is anyone involved. He is also firmed that there was no illegal drug trade inside jail.

BJMP-11 was conducting Operation Greyhound, an anti-illegal drugs and anti-contraband campaign conducted to prevent the entry, use and movement of contraband within jail premises to protect the public, employees and inmates.”

Anti-Terrorism Council tags CPP, NPA as terrorist groups Air travelers warned vs. fake

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he Anti-Terrorism Council has begun the controversial process of designating who may be considered by authorities as “terrorists” and “terrorist groups” under the new Anti-Terror law, which may have implications on freezing of assets.

This follows five months since the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was signed into law, despite heavy opposition from various groups over concerns it could lead to human rights violations.

In 2 separate resolutions approved on December 9, the ATC designated the following as “terrorist organizations, associations, and/or groups:” • Communist Party of the Philippines • New People’s Army / Bagong Hukbong Bayan • Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in South-East Asia • Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik • Dawlatul Islamiyyah Waliyatul Mashriq • IS East Asia Division • Maute Group • Islamic State East Asia • Maute ISIS • Grupong ISIS • Grupo ISIS • Khilafah Islamiyah • KIM • Ansharul Khilafah • Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Bungos • Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Abubakar

•

Jama’atu al-Muhajirin wal Ansar fil Filibin • Daulah Islamiyah • other Daesh-affiliated groups in the Philippines The copies of the ATC resolutions uploaded on the ATC website indicated the originals were signed

by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the ATC chairperson, and approved

by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., who serves as vice chair of the ATC. BASES FOR THE DESIGNATION ATC Resolution No. 12 for the CPP-NPA cited as basis for the designation the proscription case which the Department of Justice (DOJ), under then Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, filed before a Manila court in February 2018, listing 649 individuals as members.

That petition cited 12 incidents allegedly constituting acts of murder, kidnapping and arson to prove that the CPP-NPA supposedly continues to commit acts of terror to achieve its alleged ultimate goal of overthrowing the government.

Peace negotiations between government and communist rebels had collapsed earlier under the Duterte administration.

“Filing of the said petition by the NPS (National Prosecution Service), DOJ clearly establishes the existence of probable cause that the CPP/NPA committed, or attempted to commit, or conspired in the

commission of the acts defined and penalized by the ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act),” ATC Resolution 12 said.

But the DOJ, in January 2019, amended the petition leaving only 8 names, which the Manila court further trimmed down to 2, who supposedly have “unassailable links” to the CPPNPA. That ruling was solely for the purpose of serving the summons so the court could gain jurisdiction over the CPP-NPA. Aguirre’s successor, current Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, said in 2018 that the DOJ itself “did not have any personal verification of any connection of these individuals with the CPP or the NPA.” ATC Resolution No. 12 also invoked President Rodrigo Duterte’s Presidential Proclamation No. 374 declaring the CPP-NPA as terrorists for the purpose of implementing Republic Act 10168 or “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012,” which punishes financing of terrorist activities and allows the Philippine government to freeze the assets of groups identified as terrorists.

The same resolution mentioned the United States of America’s designation of the CPP-NPA as a foreign terrorist organization in August 2002 as well as the designations by the European Union (2002), Australia (2002), United Kingdom (2002) and New Zealand (2010).

Meanwhile, ATC Resolution No. 13 for ISIS, Maute and other groups relied on

the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, as well as the designations

by Australia, United States and New Zealand while raising the matter of the Marawi siege.

The ISIS-linked Maute group was behind the fivemonth siege, which left much of the city in shambles. “[T]he Marawi siege in 2017 has served as a paradigm for like-minded groups and personalities in Southeast Asia and other parts of the globe to join the militants in southern Philippines in their ambition to establish a caliphate in Mindanao, as what the Da’esh leadership has been advocating,” it said.

THE POWER TO DESIGNATE AND IMPLICATIONS Under Section 25 of the ATA, the ATC may designate terrorist groups in 3 ways: • by automatically adopting the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List of designated individuals, groups of persons, organizations or associations • by adopting requests for designations by other jurisdictions • by ATC’s own designation Designation, done by an all-Executive ATC, is different from the proscription process which goes through the Court of Appeals.

A key consequence of

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COVID-19 test labs in Manila

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he local government has warned against fake laboratories in Manila offering cheap COVID-19 tests after finding out that most passengers who arrived at the Davao International Airport since August with invalid test results were scammed, City Tourism and Operations Office head Generose Tecson said.

In a text message Tuesday, Tecson said that of the 21 passengers who were caught with invalid reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test results, 18 were scammed.

Tecson, concurrent head of the Airport Health Monitoring Team, said in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) that scammers offered to get the swabbing done at the residence of their clients for as low as P1,000 without issuing official receipts.

The local government required incoming air travelers to present negative RT-PCR test results taken within 24 to 48 hours at their place of origin before their scheduled flight, or subject themselves to free testing upon their arrival at the DIA. The official added that airport authorities were unable to verify their falsified test results with COVID-19 laboratories in Manila.

“What happened was, they were given a test result with a QR code. But when you scan it, it would provide you with a name of

a different person. Others don’t have a QR code, but you can see already from the letterhead and format that it is not something that we normally encounter in the airport. We verify all of these in the laboratories in Manila,” she said.

She said some of the victims claimed they got swabbed by agents of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Molecular Laboratory.

“The Philippine Red Cross does not have an agency. If you were told by the agency, you should be doubtful already. It is better that you personally go to the laboratories,” she said.

Names of PRC and Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory were often used by scammers to lure air travelers, she added.

Out of the 21 passengers, only one was a resident of Davao City. None of them tested positive for COVID-19 during their testing at the airport, according to Tecson.

She reminded the public to avoid suspicious individuals offering COVID-19 tests to prevent waste of money.

She said cases of falsification of documents have been filed against three individuals who deliberately forged their virus test results, including P/Lt. Joy Line Cumbao, a forensic officer assigned at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-Davao.

Cumbao, who is facing dismissal from police service for grave misconduct

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VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

NEWS 3

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PRRD to tackle new Covid-19 variant with IATF, experts

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Senator Christopher Lawrence“Bong”Go says among his priority legislations next year the establishment of mandatory quarantine facility per region.

Sen.Go pushes for mandatory quarantine facility per region

By MAYA M. PADILLO enator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go vowed to push for the establishment of mandatory quarantine facility per region as among his priority legislations next year.

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In a recent interview, Go emphasized that the establishment of such facility aims to quickly and more effectively protect the health of Filipinos particularly in time of health crisis.

“Marami akong priority legislation for the year 2021 at isa na dito itong mandatory quarantine facility per region,” he said.

The proposed facility also aims to address this need and establish quarantine facilities all throughout the country. Go believes that by isolating infected people in proper quarantine facilities, the measure will help prevent the further spread of any infectious disease.

The bill will also direct

the Department of Health (DOH) to identify locations in close coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs).

Also under the proposal, the health department shall operate, supervise and manage the facilities, which in turn will be equipped with a competent medical staff, adequate food and clothing, among others.

Go has also saw the importance of such facility in every region as the continuing surge of Covid-19 cases poses a challenge to the healthcare sector particularly those in the areas with few quarantine centers.

Based on the region-

al situation update on Covid-19 in Davao Region as of 5 p.m. of December 25, 2020, DOH Davao Center for Health Development reported 114 new cases of Covid-19 in Davao Region bringing the total number of active cases to 1,897.

Of these new cases, 68 are from Davao City, 39 are from Davao del Norte, three are from Davao Oriental, two are from Davao del Sur, and one each from Davao de Oro and Davao Occidental.

Of these new cases, two are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), two are for further verification, while 110 are local cases.

Meanwhile, Go will be pushing also for the rationalizing bed capacity in DOH-run hospitals.

Under Senate Bill 1226 or the proposed DOH Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act of 2019, it aims to authorize DOH to

ope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday asked to comfort those suffering in the Philippines, and other countries hit by natural disasters or human crises.

In a sign of the times, Francis delivered his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message virtually from a lectern inside the Vatican instead of from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica before tens of thousands.

"May the King of heaven protect all victims of natural disasters in Southeast Asia especially in the Philippines and Vietnam, where numerous storms have caused flooding with devastating repercussions in people in terms of loss of life, harm to the environment and consequenc-

es for local economies," he said.

Aside from the Philippines and Vietnam, he also prayed for people in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, countries hit by humanitarian crises.

He also said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making COVID-19 vaccines available to all, condemning nationalism and "the virus of radical individualism."

The pandemic and its social and economic effects dominated the message, in which Francis called for global unity and help for nations suffering from conflicts and humanitarian crises.

"At this moment in history, marked by the ecological crisis and grave

economic and social imbalances only worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, it is all the more important for us to acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters," he said.

Stressing that health is an international issue, he appeared to criticize so-called 'vaccine nationalism', which U.N. officials fear will worsen the pandemic if poor nations receive the vaccine last.

"I beg everyone, heads of state, companies and international organizations to promote cooperation and not competition, to find a solution for everyone - vaccines for all - especially for the most vulnerable and needy in all areas of the planet," he said.

"The most vulnerable and needy must be first,"

increase the bed capacity and service capability of its retained hospitals and to allow it to promulgate evaluation and approval guidelines.

“Wherein ibibigay na sa DOH yung authority to improve and increase the bed capacity. Ngayon dadaan pa sa kongreso, kung puwede sana sila na lang kasi maraming hospitals na kulang talaga yung hospital beds,” Go said.

His other priority legislations for next year include amendment of the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases, Barangay Health Workers Act, Emergency Medical Systems Act, bill expanding the coverage of Mandatory Basic Immunization Program, e-health system or telemedicine, Anti-prank callers Act, National Housing Development and Production and Financing Act, and Department of Overseas Filipinos Act.

he said, in the Vatican's Hall of the Benedictions, with only about 50 Vatican staff wearing masks sitting along the long walls.

'Radical individualism' "We can't put ourselves before others, putting market forces and patent laws before the laws of love and the health of humanity," he said. "We cannot let closed nationalisms block us from living like the true human family that we are."

Francis also appeared to criticize people who have refused to wear masks because it violates their freedom, an attitude that has become widespread in nations such as the United States.

"And neither can we allow the virus of radical individualism to triumph over us and make us in-

Pope Francis prays for PH typhoon victims in his Christmas message

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resident Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and infectious disease workers to discuss the new strain of coronavirus detected in the United Kingdom (UK).

In a text message sent to reporters on Friday, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said Duterte’s meeting with the IATF-EID and infectious disease experts would be held in Malacañan Palace in Manila.

“Biglaan patawag ng meeting with IATF and infectious disease experts tom si PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte suddenly called for a meeting with the IATF and infectious disease experts tomorrow) to discuss new strain (of the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19),” said Go, Duterte’s former long-time aide.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the meeting would take place at the Malago Clubhouse at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

The President scheduled the meeting following his approval of the IATFEID’s resolution that bans Philippine flights from the UK from December 24 to 31 due to concerns over the spread of a new variant of Covid-19.

Go said Duterte had decided to cut short his Christmas break as he is “very much” concerned with the reported new strain of Covid-19 that could spread more quickly than previous strains.

Roque said Duterte would discuss with the IATF-EID and infectious disease experts the possibility of extending the travel restrictions on transport from the UK.

He said there was also a chance that the travel ban would be imposed on other countries where the new strain had already entered.

“Inaasahan ding pag-usapan kung kinakailangang magkaroon ng travel ban doon sa mga lugar kung saan nakapasok na ang bagong strain ng Covid-19 (They might also discuss the possible travel ban on places where the new strain of Covid-19 has been detected),” Roque said.

The IATF-EID’s Resolution 90 authorizes the Philippines to temporarily ban flights from the UK from December 24 to 31 to prevent the entry of the new strain of Covid-19 into the country.

Under the resolution, all passengers who have been to the UK within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, including those merely in transit, are likewise prohibited from entering the country in the same period.

Passengers already in transit from the UK and those who have been to the UK within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, who arrived before 12:01 a.m. of December 24, will not be subject to entry restriction but will be required to undergo stricter quarantine and testing protocols.

The protocols that need to be observed include an absolute 14-day quarantine period at the Athlete’s Village in the New Clark City, notwithstanding a negative reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction test result.

According to the resolution, outbound travel to the UK will also be subject to the exit protocols of the Philippines and the UK. (PNA)

Duterte to veto some items in 2021 nat'l budget: Palace

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resident Rodrigo Duterte would use his veto power to get rid of some provisions included in the proposed 2021 General Appropriations Act, Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement just days before the anticipated ceremonial signing of the proposed PHP4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.

‘Sigurado po na magkakaroon po ng veto message (It is certain that there will be a veto message),” Roque said when quizzed if Duterte will veto several items in the 2021 budget plan.

Roque refused to elaborate on the certain provisions that will be removed in the proposed 2021 budget.

He, however, hinted that Duterte would veto certain items upon the recommendation of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Inaasahan din na aaprubahan din po ng Presidente yung mga naging rekomendasyon ng DBM. Meron pong mga rec-

ommended for veto. (We are expecting the President to approve the DBM’s recommendation. There is a recommendation to veto several items),” Roque said.

Duterte is scheduled to sign the budget bill in his hometown, Davao City, on December 28.

Around five representatives each from the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to witness the signing of the proposed budget for 2021.

The government’s recovery programs for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have been prioritized in the 2021 budget spending plan.

The ratified budget bill includes an allocation of PHP72.5 billion for Covid-19 vaccines.

About PHP2.5 billion of the PHP72.5 billion is under the Department of Health’s programmed funds, while the remaining PHP70 billion will be unprogrammed funds allocated for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines, its storage, transportation, and distribution. (PNA)

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VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

SSS on contribution hike: We need to implement the law

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A fisherman checks his fish trap in Barangay Caub in Del Carmen town, Siargao Island on Tuesday. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

Oil prices increase as US oil inventories fall O il prices increased over a fall in US oil stocks and a decline in the US first-time jobless claims, as both signal a possible oil demand and economic rebound.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at USD51.42 per barrel at 0642 GMT for a 0.35-percent increase after closing Wednesday at USD51.24 a barrel.

At the same time, American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at USD48.28 a barrel for a 0.33-percent increase after ending the previous session at USD48.12 per barrel.

A decline in US crude

oil inventories last week is driving the upward trend in oil prices, signaling a rebound in crude demand in the US, the world’s largest oil consumer.

Commercial crude oil inventories in the US dropped by 600,000 barrels last week relative to the market expectation of a 3.2 million-barrel draw.

A surprise drop in gasoline stocks was also seen with a fall of 1.1 million barrels to 237.8 million

PAL says readying fleet for vaccine transport

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lag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced it has increased its domestic flights on various routes in time for the holiday season following months of scaled down operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are here to help our fellow Filipinos come home to be reunited with their families this Christmas and fly them back to their residences and work sites abroad," said Harry Inoferio, PAL's Senior Assistant Vice President for Philippine Sales.

The company said it ramped up its domestic commercial operations this month by 103 percent compared to November, as it cited the gradual "bouncing back" of the industry "with the calibrated easing of travel requirements, re-opening of tourist routes and enhanced health and

safety protocols."

"We are mobilizing more aircraft and hiking flights throughout our network to further help boost the recovery of the economy, including the tourism sector which is a major provider of jobs and business," Inoferio said.

Here are some details of PAL's augmented domestic operations: • Doubled services on the prime trunk route between Manila and Cebu, from 14 to 28 round trip flights weekly since December 1st • Flights between Manila and Cagayan de Oro will rise to three times daily, while flights between Manila and Tacloban were doubled to two times a day

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barrels.

Further buoying bullish oil prices, the US firsttime claims for unemployment benefits last week fell by 89,000 from last week to 803,000, marking its lowest level in three weeks, a sign that the job market is beginning its rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.

However, oil prices are still under pressure due to a new, potentially more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus, as investors fear oil demand could remain weaker for longer.

The UK announced last week a fast-spreading new strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)

in southern England.

While the World Health Organization requested that countries redouble their health measures in light of the new strain, several countries shut their borders and some others stopped flights with the UK. According to data from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday, the number of cases worldwide has now reached over 78.7 million.

The US still tops the number of cases above 18.4 million, while cases in India now total over 10.1 million, and Brazil follows with over 7.3 million cases. (Anadolu)

ocial Security System (SSS) officials said on Wednesday they have listened to the clamor of employers and some business groups to defer the contribution hike in the state-run pension fund, but the scheduled increase in contribution rate is mandated by law.

“As much that the SSS would like to support the clamor of the public that the intended increase to be deferred, actually we are not going to do that because the basis for such increase is a legislative act,” SSS senior vice president and chief legal counsel Voltaire Agas said in a virtual press conference Wednesday.

Under the Social Service Act of 2018, the SSS shall implement contribution rate hike in 2019, 2021, and 2025.

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio announced in the same virtual event that the state-run pension fund will push through with the contribution rate increase from 12 percent to 13 percent starting January 2021.

Ignacio said the minimum monthly salary credit (MSC) will also increase from the current PHP2,000 to PHP3,000 starting next year, while also hiking maximum MSC from the current PHP20,000 to PHP25,000.

SSS chief actuary Edgar Cruz explained how the rate increase will impact on the members’ contribution to the SSS. For members with MSC of PHP3,000, the monthly contribution will increase from PHP370 to PHP400 starting January 2021. For those with MSC of PHP10,000, it will increase from PHP1,210 to PHP1,310. For those with MSC of PHP20,000, contribution will hike from PHP2,430 to PHP2,630.

“The purpose of this mandated contribution rate increase was made by

A hawker on a 'trisikad' peddles second hand jeans along Chavez Street in Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

the legislature. Because as we all know in 2017, we had a PHP1,000 across the board pension benefit increase for our pensioners, and that benefit adjustment or increase was not funded. So it will put at risk the sustainability of the fund, such that this legislated increase.

We’re just supposed to allow the SSS fund to be restored to where it was prior to grant of the 2017 increase,” Agas said.

He added that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has “taken heavy toll” on SSS cash flows due to decline in contribution collection and higher claims on unemployment insurance coupled with the expanded paternity benefits.

“Because of these, any delay of implementation -- which is mandated by the law -- will seriously endanger not only the fund, but equally important, in peril the SSS’ ability to provide prompt and much needed financial assistance for members during this pandemic,” the SSS executive said.

Cruz said per last valuation, the SSS fund life is projected to be 2054.

“The fund is expected to be depleted and we have to think ways to extend to perpetuity,” he said. “The SSS is there to provide for retirement security of all members, not just the current pensioners, but the current workers who are contributing and who will become future pensioners as well as even the generation yet unborn.”

The SSS also launched the Workers’ Investments and Savings Program (WISP), which will be rolled out by January 2021.

Those members with MSC exceeding PHP20,000 are automatically enrolled in WISP. For instance, those with MSC of PHP25,000

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VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

SOCIAL GIFTS TO GIVE

MAKE GIFTING MEANINGFUL this holiday season and shop products that are good for the planet and people! Skip the holiday rush and order directly from local brands that support communities and bring joy to your loved ones.

GET PERSONAL With Davao Ecogifts, you can choose from a range of functional gift items from indigenous materials that are sustainable, can be personalized and are affordable. The brand practices lean and sustainable business processes--from recycled packaging, sustainable delivery methods—so you know it is good inside and out!

Get a bamboo flask for as low as P850 or an eight-piece bamboo cutlery for only P300. No minimum order required. Shop via Facebook.com/ecogiftdavao DRINK UP Fill your holiday glasses with Signature Kombucha, a product of Signature Creations PH, a company that’s passionate about sustainability and supporting farmers; and access to plant-based food. The drink is a naturally carbonated fermented tea drink full of probiotics and is a healthy alternative to soda!

Get a drink (and the brand’s metal straw set for a cause) in Facebook.com/signaturekombucha.ph or in Instagram @ signaturekombucha.ph GIFT BETTER What if you could shop and help support bigger causes like efforts and collaborations to help children and families get access to safe drinking water?

You could with GiftingLife!

Bamboo flask from Davao Ecogifts.

LifeStraw Go bottle from GiftingLife.

Shop gadgets from its Safe Water Solutions—like the LifeStraw Go bottle—and be a part of a bigger project on water, health and sanitation.

Learn more in Facebook.com/ GiftingLifeSolutions.

SURE PRODUCE Skip the long lines in the palengke or in the supermarket and shop for fruits and

Sureplus All-In-One Fruit Basket.

Signature Kombucha. vegetables in Sureplus, a social enterprise that resells, repurposes, and reallocates surplus food to minimize food wastage and hunger. Make your holiday table festive with the Sureplus All-In-One Fruit Basket! It’s complete with 12 different kinds of round fruits that will not only make you lucky for the coming year but will also help livelihood of partner farmers.

Posh pouches by En Route Handcrafted.

Gourmet tuyo from Mi Gusta.

Order via www.sureplus.net or Facebook.com/sureplusfoods BREAKFAST MUST HAVE Make breakfast—or any meal, really—more exciting with gourmet tuyo from Mi Gusta, a brand of gourmet food products managed and made with love and care by empowered Dabawenyas. The gourmet tuyo comes in two variants--in

Lara Mia’s Christmas Box.

olive oil and in corn oil. It is a perfect present for that foodie in your family who loves having a signature Pinoy breakfast.

Best served with sinangag and a sunny side up! Order through Facebook.com/MiGustaPH or on Instagram.com/MiGustaPH MAKE IT FASHION Accessorize with En Route Handcrafted, a homegrown brand that empowers women in communities by encouraging them to become artisan- entrepreneurs through sustainable fashion. En Route offers stylish products: earrings, clutches, and even DIY accessory kits!

Shop in enroutehandcrafted. com or email hello@enroutehandcrafted.com.

HOLIDAY MOOD FOOD Get your holiday treats in Lara Mia Café & Bistro and surprise your loved ones (or yourself!) with their Christmas Box filled with signature treats like the Chocolate Walnut Fudge, Maamoul Cookies, and fruit cakes. In the background, the brand also contributes efforts in rehabilitation programs for people with disability. Lara Mia is also offering Zoomboxes for your online yet intimate parties! Start the feast and order via Facebook.com/LaraMiaFudge or call +63932 828 3636.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

On President Rodrigo Duterte cutting short his Christmas break in Davao City to meet with concerned government officials to discuss measures to address the new Covid-19 strain: Biglaan ang patawag ng (It was an emergency) meeting with IATF and infectious disease experts tomorrow si PRRD to discuss [the] new strain ... very much concerned kami ni Pangulo (The President and I are very much

concerned). Cut short muna

namin ang (our )Christmas

break, para sa amin ni Pangulo, walang tulog

ang serbisyo (For us, public service is

continuous).”

-Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

SOME THOUGHTS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON You probably heard some of them before – from your parents, friends, teachers, and counselors. Or, you might have read a few of them from books, newspapers, magazines, and the Holy Bible. Or, you got the idea from listening to music and watching movies and television talk shows.

Now, read them all over again: Life is a grindstone.

Whether it grinds a man down or polishes him depends upon the kind of stuff he is made of. Life is also a lot like tennis – the one who can serve best seldom loses. We dribble away our life, little by little, in small packages – we don’t throw it away all at once.

Learn by experience – preferably other people’s. Experience is not what happens to a man, it’s what a man does with what happens to him.

One good reason experience is such a good teacher is that she doesn’t allow any dropouts.

He who has never failed has never tried. Five rules for job failure: (1) Do only what is required; (2) Leave it till the last minute; (3) Let the mistakes go; (4) Don’t listen to your conscience; and (5) Learn to be a convincing bluff-

er.

Think of your own faults the first part of the night when you are awake, and of the faults of others the latter part of the night when you are asleep. Most of us can live peacefully with our own faults, but the faults of others get on our nerves.

Practice what you preach.

Doing right is never wrong.

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. One-half the trouble of this life can be traced to saying “yes” too quickly, and not saying “no” soon enough.

Live truth instead of professing it. If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies. The trouble with stretching the truth is that it’s apt to snap back.

When you determine what you want, you have made the most important decision in your life. You have to know what you want in order to attain it. If you’re not sure where you are going, you’re liable to end up somewhere.

Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment. Trust in money and you may have it taken from

you. But trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time of eternity. The greatest act of faith is when man decides he is not God. Big people monopolize the listening. Small people monopolize the talking. A great man is always willing to be little. The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

Don’t worry about your mistakes. Making mistakes isn’t stupid; disregarding them is. More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them.

If you expect perfection from people, your whole life is a series of disappointments, grumblings, and complaints.

If, on the contrary, you pitch your expectations low, taking folks as the inefficient creatures which they are, you are frequently surprised by having them perform better than you had hoped.

It is better to have love and lost than never to have at all. If someone loves you, your battle is a lot more than half won. Love cures people – both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it. If we

do not love, we are nothing.

And, if we don’t love ourselves, we are nobody.

Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have. Conquer yourself rather than the world. Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.

Failures want pleasing methods, successes want pleasing results.

A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits. Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done. To get through the hardest journey we need to take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.

Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It’s no use.

I can’t go on. If you do, you’re licked, and by your own thinking, too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on.

Remember to forgive – then remember to forget. A forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note, torn in two and burned up, so that it never can be shown against the man. Forgiveness is our com-

mand. Judgment is not.

The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. The happy people are those who are producing something; the bored people are those who are consuming much and producing nothing.

Forget yesterday, it is already gone. Don’t wait for tomorrow, it may never come.

Accomplish all the things you want to do today. Do not look back and do not dream about the future. It will neither give you back the past nor satisfy your daydreams. Your duty, your reward – your destiny – are “here” and “now.”

Ten rules for successful living: (1) Find your own particular talent. (2) Be big. (3) Be honest. (4) Live with enthusiasm. (5) Don’t let your possessions possess you. (6) Don’t worry about your problems. (7) Look up to people when you can – down to no one. (8) Don’t cling to the past. (9) Assume your full share of responsibility in the world. (10) Pray consistently and confidently.

No matter what you do and where you are, life goes on. So, take it easy.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

COMPELLING GOALS It is the year 2021 or thereabouts.

Everybody should be looking forward, motivated by their individual or collective goals.

To the layman, the synonyms of “goal” are: “object, objective, design, aim, target, end result, consequence,” and something relevant to accomplishment, attainment and success.

A goal is associated with aspiration, dream, ambition, etc., that connotes a driving force or motivation inside a person.

A goal is an idea or a concept of a future expected to result in a positive way that a person or group of people envisions, plots and plans to achieve within a given timeline, schedule or a set deadline.

“Compelling” means evoking highly-emotional reaction to an irresistible force or interest to an overwhelming idea or conviction that results consequentially in favor of the doer or the person.

Compelling goals are imperative ideas and creative concepts – even ideologies - that cannot be left undone or half-done because they

have been masterfully crafted, planned and needed to be implemented and executed to a fruitful result.

Ideally, governments should have compelling goals in their calendar of activities and programs in the same manner that a person, in order to attain success, must write down his compelling goals to motivate him to move forward in life.

In democratic governments, these compelling goals emanate from the executive branch, translated and given life through legislation as dictated by the circumstances and needs of the times.

For instance, is the resolution of the local insurgency problem – the communist-inspired NPA and the renegade Muslim group BIFF – a compelling goal of the national government, past and present?

Meaning, how long shall the people continue to endure these bothersome pocket rebellions if the attainment of a long lasting peace and order environment is not a compelling goal?

Is food security or agricultural self-sufficiency a compel-

ling goal that the national as well as the local government units must always include in their development and sustainable agenda to ensure their constituents do not go hungry and/or not suffer from deprivation due to high food prices?

Is the continuous supply of energy (solar and fossil fuel) a compelling goal because without oil and adequate energy source, the government cannot efficiently function and effectively ensure the continued operation of our industries and manufacturing companies.

Without energy resources, workers and the labor force will be rendered inutile, thus resulting in nation-wide restlessness.

Is the inflow of foreign investments also a compelling goal because it will enable the government to generate income generating opportunities for millions of Filipinos who are either idle or under-employed?

For this matter, is constitutional reform also a compelling goal because the 1987 Constitution has been found wanting in many respects and irresponsive to the emerging global developments that have clearly

transformed our neighbors like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan and even Vietnam into richer economies and better politically-situated?

Is the widely-suggested constitutional change – from bicameral to unicameral – to a parliamentary form of government now a compelling goal because the mountains of problems that have been confronting us do not find solutions in the present bi-cameral composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate?

Are the issues more economic than political or more political than economic or both?

Only one and a half years are left with the Duterte administration before its term expires in June 30, 2022 but the signs of a compelling constitutional change are not yet imminent nor flashing, even in the far eastern horizon.

This deadline scribbler believes that the compelling goal for the constitutional revision, amendment or change is nowhere real nor present because it is seemingly impossible NOW to fast-track such an enormous

task where there is an equally enormous political resistance.

The CoVid 19 health hazard that is wrongly labeled by the WHO as a pandemic is the one getting the lion’s share of government attention today.

And the purchase of the vaccine. But wait, did not thousands of CoVid 19 patients have recovered even without the vaccine?

Add the approaching 2022 presidential fever and the big headache that is the computerization requirement and what do we have?

To the average Filipino, these will occupy their thoughts from here-on till election day.

Tell me, how do we distinguish compelling goals from ordinary, run of the mill issues?

Indeed, as Lincoln said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Ah, Winston Churchill shares his thoughts: “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom; justice; honor; duty; mercy; hope. Cheers, folks! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

8 AGRITRENDS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

This farm is a great tourist destination

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

here’s a buzzword in tourism these days.

It’s called farm tourism.

Republic Act No. 10816, otherwise known as the Farm Tourism Development Act, defines farm tourism as “the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational and recreational purposes.” As a reason to visit, it is becoming increasingly popular in the Philippines.

Any agriculture or fishery-based activity that brings people to be educated or trained on farming and related activities, or just provides a venue for outdoor recreation and family outings can be called farm tourism. “It ranges from very (sophisticated) tourist farms to very simple … farms,” said Senator Cynthia Villar, author of Act No. 10816. “They are the same thing; it’s about being creative.”

In Davao del Sur, one of the top tourism destinations when it comes to farming is the Lao Integrated Farm, Incorporated, located in barangay Eman of Bansalan.

The farm is known for its coco sugar, organic farming, and crop diversification.

“My first love is farming,” admits Benjamin R. Lao, a former immigration officer in Davao City who owns the farm. It was understandable; his parents were both farmers and he grew up in a surrounding where people were planting rice, corn, and several other crops.

But Lao never thought it would come to this. He graduated from law school in 1985 with the intention of becoming a lawyer.

But it all changed when he inherited the 5-hectare farm land from his parents in 1998.

Coconut were the only crops being grown. Every three months, he harvested from as low as 400 to as high as 600 nuts. It wasn’t encouraging enough so he visited the nearby farm, the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in barangay Kinuskusan, known for its sustainable farming schemes.

After attending a training, he brought with him some seeds of nitrogen-fixing species like Flemingia macrophylla, Desmodium rensonii and Indigofera anil which he planted in various parts of the farm. He also brought in some livestock like goats and swine; he used the manure as organic fertilizer.

The leaves from the leguminous shrubs that fell below the ground also became instant organic fertilizer for the coconut trees. Several months later, the coconut yields markedly increased

to 15,000 nuts per quarter. “Some of my neighbors told me it was a miracle,” Lao says.

Although the money he made from copra was good, he wanted to earn more. After attending a seminar conducted by Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), he thought of producing coconut sugar from the coconut toddy.

Lao learned from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that coconut toddy contains 12%18% sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids. It is also rich in nutrients and high in potassium.

Phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium and vitamin C. “The production of coconut sugar is very simple,” he says. “It is just a natural process of heat evaporation to convert liquid sap to solid form of sugar granules. It requires no complicated and highcost machineries or equipment nor a huge capital.”

What one thing about coconut sugar is that is all natural. That is why it is recommended to people with diabetes, a disease that afflicts more than 5 million Filipinos. “Coconut sugar has low glycemic index, a measure of blood sugar, thus good for diabetics and those having prostate problems,” Lao says. “It has also glutamic acid, the same ingredient that can be found in Viagra.”

In the beginning, he only sells the locally-produced coconut products inside his farm. Believing there was an untapped market for such products, he hired people and started producing other alternative sweeteners like coco honey and coco sap drinks that are used for desserts and other delicacies.

Lao later registered these products with the Department of Trade and Industry under the moniker Donna Belle – a com-

bination of the names of his two daughters. He started distributing his products in some outlets in nearby areas and the cities of Davao, Digos, General Santos and Butuan. Outside of Mindanao, his coconut sugar is being sold in Cebu and Metro Manila.

Due to the increasing demand for his products, he decided to incorporate Lao Integrated Farms Inc. In one of the trade fairs he attended, he met a buyer who was interested with coco sugar. So in 2009, he shipped 2.2 tons of coco sugar to the United States.

That was the beginning. Since then, Lao has been exporting his products not only to the US but also in the United Kingdom and Australia, among others. “My

coconut sugar is guaranteed 100-percent free from chemicals,” he assures.

But it’s not only coconut sugar that is very popular abroad.

Teriyaki all-dip sauce, another coconut-based product, is also a hit among foreign consumers.

People who buy his products are assured that they are fit for human consumption as his farm has earned various local and international organic and safety certifications.

Today, 80% of his coconut products are for export. He credited this achievement to continued research. In fact, he was named

by DOST as a magsasaka-siyentista. “As a farmer-scientist,” he says, “I was able to focus on researching coconut sap products. It took us eight months to study on how to make export-quality coconut syrup.”

Lao has gone a long, long way.

He was working in Davao City as director of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation when fate intervened. His mother called him to divide equally the 40 hectares of their land among the eight siblings as inheritance. “I am the fifth child but I was unanimously

chosen to assign which portion of land should be given to each sibling,” he recalls.

For some unknown reasons, Lao selected the land that was so infertile that only cogon grass would thrive on it. His brothers and sisters never bothered to ask him his reasons; they were happy to get their own shares.

“My parents wanted me to be a lawyer,” he admits. “But I wanted to toil the land to produce food to feed my family and earn sustainable income.”

Lao is not only a coconut farmer; he is also an organic farmer. In his farm, you won’t see his farm workers using chemical pesticides. “I had a tragic experience with chemical pesticides when I was still a teenager while cultivating rice in our farm located in the neighboring barangay,” he reveals.

Instead, he recommends using Eman, an acronym for “epiktibo, mura at natural” (effective, cheap, and natural).

“This is a concoction composed of fresh goats’ manure, kakawate, makabuhay, and hot pepper,” he says. “These are soaked together for 48 hours and after that the concoction is ready for use.”

According to Lao, Eman is effective in repelling plant pests and diseases. “We are committed to help preserve our environment,” he points out. “We want to teach Filipino farmers through natural methods and that is by not using commercial fertilizers or pesticides.”

Lao also doesn’t inject his chickens with drugs for immunization. He told Department of Agriculture’s Noel T. Provido that he has concocted his own “natural antibiotics.” He uses mayana plant extract (60%) combined with malunggay (30%), turmeric (5%) and oregano (5%). A one-liter extract is fermented for 3-4 days and then mixed with molasses or one kilo of muscovado, which would dissolve into liquid for 3-5 days.

Every day, chickens are given two spoons of the concoction.

“We have zero casualty of atay (new castle) disease among our chickens,” he says, adding that he calls these organically-raised chickens as EMAN, which stands

for elegante at masayahing manok.

As a farmer himself, Lao believes that Filipino farmers need to know the basics of record keeping. “Simple accounting will help farmers compare the big difference between chemical-laden conventional farming and organic farming which cuts down cost in buying fertilizers and chemicals,” he said. “Reduced cost means additional income.”

To people who have been to his farm, they have described it as a haven. In fact, it is now one of the most-often visited farms in Davao Region. The Department of Tourism has recognized it as a farm tourism destination. People from all over the country come to the place to see how his farm works.

You don’t see only livestock, poultry, fruits, crops and vegetables but ornamentals as well.

“It’s nice to see beautiful flowers underneath the trees,” Lao says.

“In addition, the flowers serve as breeding areas for beneficial insects like spiders and dragonflies.”

Lao believes in adding value to a product. “Value adding is an important component in a farming system,” he explains. “For instance, if you have goats, you must know how to produce fresh milk and have other saleable products from the animals. In the case of coconut, don’t think only of copra because it is cheaper; you can always have another product to sell.”

Aside from his coco-based major products, he also has ice cream using goat’s milk with flavors such as malunggay, turmeric, durian and soursop. He also incorporates his coconut sugar into a tea: mangosteen tea, malunggay tea, turmeric tea, and lemon grass tea.

His success went unnoticed.

In fact, he received several recognitions from different award-giving bodies: Most Outstanding Coconut Farmer from the Department of Agriculture in 2008, Productivity Olympics National Winner in 2009 from the Department of Labor and Employment, Micro Entrepreneur of the Year Presidential Award in 2009, Business Excellence Award from the Bank of the Philippines in 2010, and Organic Farmer of the Year in 2011 from the Department of Agriculture.

Despite all these awards, Lao remains humble. “Even if I now have a higher income,” he says, “I still need to feel the ground beneath my feet. For me, success is measured by how many people you can help.”

It’s no wonder why people come flocking to his farm.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

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designation is that it allows the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of designated terrorist groups or individuals.

The ATC’s own media release highlights the freezing of assets under another law — RA 10168.

“In effect, the designation places the assets of the CPP/NPA subject to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council or AMLC to investigate or freeze the same pursuant to Section 11 of RA 10168.

Section 8 of RA 10168, provides that any person who knowingly deals with any property or funds of designated persons or makes available any property or funds or financial services

or other related services to such designated persons faces criminal and civil liability,” it said, claiming the ATA and RA 10168 “complement” each other.

Authorities used RA 10168 as legal basis to freeze the assets of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, a group of nuns accused of having ties with the CPP-NPA. Critics of the ATA have denounced the ATC’s power to designate terrorists as a violation of the right to due process, among others, since it precludes participation of suspected terrorists, leaving them no chance to oppose nor present evidence before their designation.

Former lawmaker and National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers chair Neri Colmenares previously called the ATC’s plan to publicize the names of groups tagged as terrorists as the “mother of all red-tagging.”

Activists have also expressed concern that the spate of red-tagging of rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and other groups committed by government officials themselves, could eventually lead to their being tagged as “terrorists” under the ATA.Thirty-seven petitions are pending before the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the ATA. SC will hold oral arguments on January 19, 2021.

and dishonesty, presented a falsified virus test result upon her arrival at the DIA last December 10, but no record of such test was found when the local government verified it with Camp Crame, Tecson said.

“It’s really dangerous when they get used to fak-

ing (a virus test). I know most of them did what they did so that they could leave the airport right away,” she said.

As of December 23, Department of Health-Davao reported a total of 11,839 COVID-19 cases in the region, with 1,857 active

ones, 9,516 recoveries and 466 deaths.

Of the total cases, Davao City reported 8,348, Davao de Oro 581, Davao del Norte 1,423, Davao del Sur 843, Davao Occidental 122, and Davao Oriental 522.

(Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

PAL likewise announced it has resumed services to Antique, as well as to Catarman and to tourist destinations Coron (Busuanga), Siargao and Boracay.

Currently, PAL operates up to two flights daily to Boracay’s Caticlan Airport from Manila.

PAL also revived its ser-

vice to Tagbilaran (Panglao airport) in November after the reopening of Bohol province to domestic tourism.

Overall, PAL said it is now catering to 25 domestic and 32 international destinations.

Meanwhile, PAL added it was readying its fleet of widebody aircraft for "the

task of transporting vaccines to the Philippines and around the region."

The Philippine government said it is eyeing to use 4 vaccines against the novel coronavirus by the first 3 months of 2021, even as the country has yet to receive emergency vaccine use applications for the drug.

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PAL... FROM4

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9

different to the suffering of other brothers and sisters," he said.

Italians are under a nationwide lockdown for much of the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The restrictions mean people are not able to go to St. Peter's Square or the basilica for papal events, all of which have been moved indoors.

Christmas is above all a time to help others be-

cause Jesus himself was born a poor outcast, Francis said on Thursday night at his Christmas Eve Mass, which started two hours early so the few participants could get home in time before a 10 p.m. curfew.

"May the Child of Bethlehem help us, then, to be generous, supportive and helpful, especially towards those who are vulnerable, the sick, those

unemployed or experiencing hardship due to the economic effects of the pandemic, and women who have suffered domestic violence during these months of lockdown," he said in his Friday address.

He then called for peace and reconciliation in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon and Iraq, which he is due to visit in early March.

are mandated to be included in the WISP. Their monthly contribution will also increase from the current PHP2,430 to PHP3,280 come next month.

Cruz said those with MSC exceeding PHP20,000 make up 20 percent of total SSS members.

Under the WISP, members are entitled to retire-

ment, total disability, and death benefits in addition to the Regular SSS Program.

SSS will invest a significant contribution under WISP in risk-free government securities and a modest portion will be invested in equities in blue-chip corporate investments.

Earnings realized from

investments will also be distributed proportionately based on members' contributions. This means that the bigger the contribution, the higher the earnings that the member stands to receive.

To date, SSS projects that base return of investments of 4.5 percent and investment income under WISP is tax-free. (PNA)

proving that age is just a number,” shared Ramirez.

The sports chief also notes that “together yet apart, we Filipinos share the responsibility of keeping everyone safe,” thus, the need to showcase seasoned women in sports who rise above the limits.

PSC-Women in Sports Oversight Commissioner Celia H. Kiram says that the episode’s focus on aging women is motivated by the change in the human body’s dietary needs and

physical activity requirements as it ages.

“Women need to manage their health better later in life as medical studies show that they are more prone to heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, depression and anxiety, and hormone changes.

Coronavirus is still around and is an addition to the health threats present now,” added Kiram.

The episode also features Dr. Florosita Reyes, a fellow at Philippine Geri-

atric Medicine, who will discuss active aging and dietary tips for older women.

As a season-ender, Rise Up, Shape Up’s final episode for 2020 also looks back on the journey of the series.

Eileen Tupaz, a yoga and meditation teacher and co-founder of WhiteSpace Mind and Body Wellness Studio, also takes the viewers to a guided meditation on cultivating gratitude.

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10 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 218 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 27-28, 2020

ATHLETES’ SECRET Legendary Filipina bowler Bong Coo.

Bong Coo, Carrion on aging gracefully

W

orld-renowned Filipina bowler Olivia "Bong" Coo and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion headline Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) women empowerment web series, Rise Up! Shape Up, this Wednesday.

The eighth episode which closes the two-month-long series is entitled “Aging Gracefully: Embracing Life’s Golden Years,” and focuses on these two accomplished women’s healthcare and best lifestyle practices for their age.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez

expressed the importance of having these known sports figures show that being healthy and active in old age is possible.

“These powerful and decorated women in the sports scene make us proud of their achievements and inspire us to prioritize our health

FATHLETES, P9